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cnbc.com
Trump says U.S. military has begun major combat operations in Iran, explosions heard around Middle East
Trump said Iran has continued to pursue nuclear weapons despite ongoing negotiations to end its program.
theguardian.com
Her husband wanted to use ChatGPT to create sustainable housing. Then it took over his life.
Kate Fox says Joe Ceccanti was the ‘most hopeful person’ before he started spending 12 hours a day with a chatbotOn 7 August, Kate Fox received a phone call that upended her life. A medical examiner said that her husband, Joe Ceccanti – who had been missing for several hours – had jumped from a railway overpass and died. He was 48.Fox couldn’t believe it. Ceccanti had no history of depression, she said, nor was he suicidal – he was the “most hopeful person” she had ever known. In fact, according to the witness accounts shared with Fox later, just before Ceccanti jumped, he smiled and yelled: “I’m great!” to the rail yard attendants below when they asked him if he was OK. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Premium bonds: odds of a win to get worse from April
Likelihood of winning to decrease after NS&I cut the proportion of the total invested amount paid out in prizesThere was some bad news this week for Britain’s 22 million-strong army of premium bond holders: the odds of winning a prize are to get worse.National Savings and Investments (NS&I) says it is cutting the proportion of the total invested amount paid out in prizes from 3.6% to 3.3% a year with effect from April’s draw. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Harrods faces legal action over £1-a-head dining charge not going to staff
Case brought by 29 workers and backed by UVW union seen as test case that could lead to changes at other restaurantsHarrods is facing legal action over its addition of a £1-a-head cover charge to diners’ bills that does not go to workers, in a test case that could lead to changes at a string of upmarket restaurants.Legislation, which came into force in October 2024, requires business owners to hand over all tips and service charges to staff. Some restaurants, including those at Harrods, add a mandatory cover charge as well as an optional service charge and only pass on the latter to their workers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘I charge my adult kids £300 a month to live with me’: how families share costs
As high rents push more adult children back to the family nest, it is vital to have a conversation about who pays whatWhen her 27-year- old son and 24-year-old daughter moved back home, Tricia Carter decided to ask them to pay rent. The 63-year-old, who lives in south London, charges them £300 each a month to cover bills including electricity and groceries.She has a comfortable income, but their contributions help to keep the books balanced. The money is also a way to make her children aware of the financial burden of living somewhere, she says. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Dirty water, death and decline: the inside story of a privatisation scandal
There is no end in sight to the pollution caused by a ‘broken’ system. Experts say it could even be getting worseSarah Lambert took her usual morning swim for 40 minutes off Exmouth town beach before her volunteer shift helping disabled people get access to the water.A wheelchair user herself, Lambert’s regular sea swims twice a week between the lifeboat station and HeyDays restaurant were the perfect form of exercise for her disability. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump administration warns tariff refund process ‘will take time’
DoJ says it will not ask US supreme court to rehear tariffs case despite president’s complaint on Truth SocialThe Trump administration said refunds of tariffs struck down by the US supreme court “will take time”, according to court documents filed by the Department of Justice.Businesses including FedEx have lined up to demand reimbursement for US tariffs they have paid but that the court last week deemed were imposed illegally, prompting heavy criticism from Donald Trump. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
OpenAI strikes deal with Pentagon, hours after rival Anthropic was blacklisted by Trump
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on X that his company has come to terms with the Defense Department for use of its models.
bbc.com
Trump orders government to stop using Anthropic in battle over AI use
The move announced on social media comes after a standoff between Anthropic's boss and the US Department of Defense.
bbc.com
Rent tops £1,000 a month in more areas - find out where
The cost of renting privately has surged in the last five years, but tenants may now see a slowdown.
cnbc.com
Trump says he'd 'love not to' attack Iran, 'but sometimes you have to'
President Donald Trump expressed frustration at Iran's refusal to comply with American demands to curb its nuclear program.
theguardian.com
Paramount Skydance wins Warner Bros Discovery bid after Netflix walks away from deal
Streamer said ‘deal no longer financially attractive’ at price required to match offer by David Ellison’s firmParamount Skydance has beaten Netflix to take over Warner Bros Discovery’s storied Hollywood studios and streaming business after the streaming giant refused to increase its bid.The $110bn deal ends a high-stakes bidding war between the two media companies, but the takeover still faces regulatory hurdles and a backlash from critics worried about a rightward tilt in US media. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
WBD employees fear coming wave of job losses as Paramount tops Netflix's bid to acquire company
WBD employees fear potential job cuts, culture clashes and high debt loads as Paramount supplants Netflix as the company's acquirer.
bbc.com
What the Warner Bros deal could mean for streaming, cinemas and news
If Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros goes ahead it could significantly reshape Hollywood.
theguardian.com
Suicide forum found to be in breach of Online Safety Act after failing to block UK users
Ofcom says that after provisional ruling it could apply to courts to demand internet providers stop access to siteA suicide forum linked to deaths in Britain has been ruled provisionally in breach of the Online Safety Act after it failed to properly block access to UK users when ordered to do so last year.Ofcom, the online regulator, said it could now apply to the courts to demand internet service providers block access to the site in the UK. This will depend on how the site, which also faces fines, responds over the next 10 days. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
OpenAI announces $110bn funding round that would value firm at $840bn
Deal signals feverish pace of AI investment with multibillion-dollar backings from Nvidia, Amazon and moreOpenAI said on Friday it is raising $110bn in a blockbuster funding round that would value the ChatGPT maker at $840bn, in a deal that signals the feverish pace of investment in artificial intelligence.It’s more than double the amount the company raised last year, when it racked up $40bn in the largest private tech deal on record. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves ‘to give go-ahead’ for £1bn military helicopter deal
Reports say chancellor to sign contract with Italy’s Leonardo, saving 3,000 manufacturing jobs at Yeovil factoryRachel Reeves is to approve a £1bn deal to build military helicopters in Yeovil, saving about 3,000 manufacturing jobs, according to reports.The chancellor is expected to sign a contract with Leonardo – the Italian owner of the former Westland factory in Yeovil, Somerset – to build the new battlefield helicopters, after months of speculation as to whether the historical site would survive. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Opinion: Block's layoffs might just be the biggest story of a tumultuous week. Here's why
Block, Jack Dorsey's payments company, will cut 6,000 of its 10,000 workers as it embraces AI. CNBC's Steve Sedgwick says it's the biggest story of the week.
cnbc.com
Block shares soar as much as 24% as company slashes workforce by nearly half
Block said Thursday it's laying off more than 4,000 employees, or about half of its head count.
bbc.com
Brewdog expected to announce sale early next week
Staff are told Brewdog's German arm is not included in the sale and will now be liquidated but bars will trade as normal this weekend.
theguardian.com
Dissatisfaction with life in UK unchanged since Covid, official data shows
Average life satisfaction still below pre-pandemic peak despite improving economic outlook, reports ONSThe proportion of people in the UK who feel dissatisfied with life has failed to improve since the pandemic despite the economic outlook improving, official figures show.The Office for National Statistics said a survey of personal wellbeing in the UK showed average life satisfaction remained below its pre-pandemic peak, despite the rate of gross domestic product per person rising since 2021. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
UBS downgrades the U.S. stock market. Here's what has the investment bank worried
UBS downgraded U.S. equities to "benchmark" in a fully invested global equity portfolio, saying factors that powered years of outperformance are starting to fade.
cnbc.com
Swiss Re pops 4% after posting record $4.8 billion profit, plans $1.5 billion buyback
European markets finished mixed as more earnings reports and economic data were in focus.
bbc.com
Government to give go-ahead for £1bn defence helicopter deal
The chancellor has stepped in to protect jobs at the helicopter manufacturer in Somerset, the BBC understands.
cnbc.com
Asia markets trade mixed after Wall Street pullback on Nvidia slump
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Friday, after U.S. stocks declined overnight as Nvidia shares tumbled despite a quarterly earnings beat.
theguardian.com
The supreme court has struck a blow to Trump’s corruption machine | David Sirota
The supreme court has deferred to executive power for decades. Its decision on tariffs is a long-overdue warningAfter two decades of deferring to executive authority and eroding anti-bribery laws, the supreme court has suddenly limited presidential power in a way that could make one ugly form of political influence a bit more difficult to pull off. Last week’s ruling did not merely strip one president of his executive power to unilaterally impose levies across broad swaths of the economy – it makes it harder for any president to transform tariffs from a broad economic policy into a personal political cudgel that muzzles criticism and enforces fealty.“A Supreme Court otherwise inclined to endlessly expand Trump’s authority just restricted his go-to tool, ruling that U.S. presidents do not have the power to unilaterally deploy tariffs and dole out punishment and favor to specific companies and economic sectors, friends and family, and entire countries,” said Lori Wallach of Rethink Trade.The Washington Post reported that Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, dumped $1m into Trump’s inauguration, cultivated relationships with Trump officials, and “refrained from publicly criticizing the president or his policies on national television” – just before securing tariff exemptions for his company’s products.ProPublica reported that the administration approved a tariff exemption for a thermoplastic made by a company “owned by a pair of brothers who have donated millions of dollars to Republican causes”.A tariff exemption for electronics conveniently benefited Tesla and, by extension, its CEO, Elon Musk, who bankrolled a multimillion-dollar campaign to re-elect Trump.The sugar behemoth Florida Crystals, which has lobbied on tariff policy, gave $2m to the main pro-Trump Super Pac, Maga Inc, ahead of Trump slapping tariffs on imported sugar. Reynolds American likewise delivered $2m to the same Super Pac while successfully pushing Trump to crack down on imports of Chinese tobacco products.Trump relaxed export controls on the microchip maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) after the company gave $1million to Maga Inc.Trump reduced tariffs on Vietnam and removed that country from the United States’s export controls list after the Hanoi government approved his family business’s $1.5bn golf course and real estate project. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Russia and Ukraine agree local truce to allow repairs at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant
Russian forces have controlled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant since early 2022, shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
cnbc.com
Core wholesale prices rose 0.8% in January, much more than expected
The core producer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.8%, more than the 0.6% gain in December.
cnbc.com
World's largest sovereign wealth fund's bets on Big Tech and banking drive gains
Norges Bank Investment Management manages the world's largest sovereign wealth fund.
cnbc.com
Netflix ditches deal for Warner Bros. Discovery after Paramount’s offer is deemed superior
Netflix is ditching a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets after the WBD board deemed a revised bid by Paramount to be superior.
bbc.com
Waitrose to suspend mackerel sales due to overfishing concerns
The supermarket chain says it will stop sourcing fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April.
cnbc.com
Trump said tariffs could someday 'substantially replace' income taxes. What policy experts say
During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump said tariffs could someday "substantially replace" the federal income tax system.
cnbc.com
U.S. and Iran wrap up 'most intense' nuclear talks with no deal — more negotiations ahead
Iran's nuclear program, enrichment of uranium and its ballistic-missle development program have been at the crux of the negotiations.
bbc.com
SSE Airtricity to reduce gas prices by 8% from April
It means the annual gas bill of a typical household with a credit meter will reduce by £80 a year.
theguardian.com
Sainsbury’s to cut 300 jobs as it restructures tech team and Argos deliveries
Head office job losses part of plan for more separation between supermarket and Argos businessesSainsbury’s is cutting 300 head office jobs as it restructures its technology team and Argos delivery network, creating more separation between the two businesses.The London-based retail group said most of the job cuts would be in technology and data, where it was “consolidating routine reporting tasks” and creating dedicated teams for Argos and the supermarket. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
California fast food workers, still reeling from ICE raids, demand employers step up
Union-backed pledge urges fast food employers to protect workers’ rights as immigration raids fuel fear and walkoutsFast food workers in California are demanding employers sign a pledge reaffirming workers’ rights amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at workplaces across the US.The California Fast Food Workers Union, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, drafted a Constitutional Pledge to California Workers’ Rights for workplaces to sign that affirms a commitment to protecting workers and “keep ICE from going where they are not allowed”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Tyrrells plans to give vegetable crisps the chop
Parent company KP confirms the proposals may lead to the loss of a factory in Uttoxeter.
cnbc.com
Anthropic CEO Amodei says Pentagon's threats 'do not change our position' on AI
Anthropic said its negotiations with the DOD are still ongoing.
theguardian.com
Most US coal plants could meet air pollution rules. Trump weakened them anyway
EPA found only 27 of 219 plants needed upgrades; 71 later got exemptions as Donald Trump scrapped mercury limitsAlmost all coal-fired power plants in the US had the ability to comply with rules limiting their emission of dangerous pollutants such as mercury that can cause brain damage in children. Despite this, Donald Trump’s administration decided to demolish the standards anyway.Last week, the Trump administration said it is loosening restrictions on air toxins from mercury, lead and other heavy metals that are released by coal plants. Such pollution is known to be neurotoxic and has been linked to irreversible brain damage in children and infants, as well as heart disease and cancer in adults. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why you should consider fixing your energy tariff now
Martin Lewis explains what the upcoming change to the energy price cap means for your bills.
cnbc.com
UK PM Keir Starmer suffers major blow after his party comes third in key vote
The result in a seat that Labour has dominated for nearly a century represents an embarrassing setback for the prime minister.
cnbc.com
Smartphone market poised for 'sharpest decline on record' in 2026
Two recent reports predict further declines in the smartphone market in 2026, as dwindling memory supplies continue to drive up prices of consumer electronics.
bbc.com
How did Paramount beat Netflix to Warner Bros?
What to know about the two firms' blockbuster battle to control Warner Bros Discovery.
cnbc.com
India's economy grows at faster-than-expected pace of 7.8% in December quarter
The world's fastest-growing major economy expanded by 7.8% in the December quarter.
bbc.com
Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguards
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously threatened to remove the firm from the department's supply chain.
bbc.com
'I was on Instagram all day' - woman tells landmark trial
The young woman, who accuses Meta and Google of making addictive social media platforms, has been speaking in court.
bbc.com
Dyson settles forced labour suit in landmark UK case
Migrant workers alleged they were subjected to abusive treatment in a Malaysian factory for Dyson.
theguardian.com
Hornby sells slot car racing brand Scalextric for £20m
Purbeck Capital Partners seals deal with model railway maker for toy racing car business and IP rightsFor almost six decades Hornby has watched Scalextric drive revenues for its hobby business but on Friday the company said it had decided to sell the slot car racing brand for £20m to a little-known buyer.The model railway company, which also sells toy planes and cars under the Airfix and Corgi brands, has sold the Scalextric business and intellectual property rights to Purbeck Capital Partners. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘More exploitation, fewer rights’: Argentina braces for sweeping overhaul of labor laws
Javier Milei’s boosters say law will revive employment, but critics decry cuts to severance and longer working hoursArgentina’s senate is poised to approve a sweeping overhaul of labour laws aimed at weakening trade unions and lowering labour costs for businesses.The government of the self-styled “anarcho-capitalist” president, Javier Milei, says the initiative will help revive formal employment, after 290,600 registered jobs were lost between December 2023, when he took office, and November 2025. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Homes a short walk from the sea in England and Scotland – in pictures
From a former fisher’s cottage a stone’s throw from the water, to a majestic Arts and Crafts house near a path to the beach Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Switching energy deal can save £200 as price cap falls, say experts
Households on a default dual-fuel tariff in Great Britain could cut costs by moving to a fixed dealExperts have told households whose energy bills are pegged to the price cap not to “rest on their laurels” as they could save more than £200 a year on a fixed deal.This week, Ofgem said the price cap in Great Britain would drop by 7% from April. This usually only matters if you are on a default tariff, but this time the reduction applies to everyone because the government is removing green charges from bills. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
See the movie, play the game: How Nintendo is pulling out all the stops to sell the Switch 2
Nintendo is betting on nostalgia and new gamers to drive sales of its flagship Switch 2 console and key games.
theguardian.com
Dirty Business, The Lady, Mandelson’s arrest – are they truth, ‘faction’ or just more drama? | Simon Jenkins
The latest rush of docudramas seems to suggest that anyone in the public eye must expect a degree of intrusion. But where does that end?Was that really Peter Mandelson getting into a police car on Monday? Was it really the same Mandelson who had supposedly been about to flee to the British Virgin Islands, the man called “a traitor” to his country and the buddy of a sex trafficker of girls? Was he really to be questioned for nine hours by the police over “misconduct in public office”, an offence few people have ever heard of? For a moment, I thought it must be a trailer for a new Epstein docudrama “inspired by real-life events”.For two months, news desks on both sides of the Atlantic have been trawling through the Epstein files, daily releasing sensational details. This one story – now years old – is crushing out many others. The name of Jeffrey Epstein this past week has claimed precedence over Donald Trump, China, Iran and Ukraine. Each night’s BBC television news has demoted Keir Starmer, the NHS, tax reform and student loans. Preference is relentlessly ceded to Epstein, with bit parts for the former prince Andrew, Mandelson, Bill Gates, the Clintons and a galaxy of billionaires and celebrities. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
An Indian company is set to build a $2 billion AI hub with Nvidia’s GPUs and go public. Here's what we know so far
Yotta Data Services, which controls up to 70% of India’s GPU capacity, said surging demand from local AI startups and global tech firms is tightening supply.
bbc.com
Data tool to spot families due financial support
Households entitled to national benefits will be identified by the new system.
bbc.com
Community larder helps 117 people in one day
Jo Haywood says the volunteer-led group is seeing "record numbers" of people needing cheaper food.
theguardian.com
If France could lead the world with Minitel in the 1980s, surely Europe can free itself from Silicon Valley’s shackles now? | Alexander Hurst
Back then, France punched above its weight when it came to tech. The EU needs it to rediscover its taste for the cutting edgeIn the 1960s, France became the third country, after the US and Soviet Union, to independently place a satellite (Astérix) into orbit, and the only country to send an animal into space and – crucially, for Félicette the catstronaut – bring it back alive. A decade later, the Franco-British Concorde flicked passengers across the Atlantic in three and a half hours and the TGV began to propel them through the countryside first at 250km/h (155mph), and then 320km/h. Then, in the late 1980s, the French space agency designed a crewed spaceplane, Hermès, that corrected for the Nasa space shuttle’s vulnerability by being integrated into its launch vehicle rather than perched atop it.A concerted buildout of nuclear power left France with one of the least carbon-intensive economies in the world. And then, of course, there was the Minitel. More than a decade before anyone was typing “www” into their web browsers, French users were able to buy train tickets, check film showings, do their banking, play games, find recipes, read their horoscopes, or even log into, yes, erotic chats – la messagerie rose, as it was known. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Paramount set for $111bn Warner Bros takeover after Netflix drops bid
Netflix's decision to back down from the bidding war clears the path for Paramount to win the takeover battle.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Netflix bows out from Warner Bros. Discovery bidding war
Netflix on Thursday stateside said it declined to raise a counteroffer for Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets.
bbc.com
Jack Dorsey's Block cuts thousands of jobs as it embraces AI
The Twitter co-founder says he believes the majority of firms will make similar changes "within the next year."
bbc.com
Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.
cnbc.com
CNBC's Inside India newsletter: As AI shockwaves hit software firms, what’s in store for India’s IT titans?
AI-led disruption is threatening India’s software giants.
theguardian.com
Drop in overseas workers is ‘car crash’ for UK hospitals and care homes, say experts
Care roles hit particularly hard by UK’s lurch to the right on migration, according to analysis of Home Office dataHospitals and care homes in the UK face “an impending car crash”, experts have warned, as research shows the number of overseas nurses and carers has collapsed.Analysis of Home Office quarterly data reveals the number of overseas nurses granted entry to the UK has fallen by 93% over three years. Just 1,777 overseas nurses were granted entry in 2025, compared with 26,100 in 2022. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Burger King rolls out AI headsets that track employee 'friendliness'
The fast-food chain is testing OpenAI-powered headsets that monitor staff interactions with customers.
cnbc.com
Nvidia's blowout earnings report disappoints Wall Street as stock sinks 5%
"The odds were stacked against them," Adam Phillips of EP Wealth Advisors told CNBC.
bbc.com
Mandelson referred to EU anti-fraud agency over Epstein emails
The European Commission says it is assessing whether the peer breached its code of conduct while its trade envoy.
bbc.com
'Is this all bad debt or good debt?'
Karen has not only left the family in emotional turmoil but also in serious debt.
theguardian.com
Ocado failing to deliver on its potential as one of UK’s great technology hopes
Firm’s automated warehouses are struggling to compete against swift deliveries from stores by bike ridersOcado to cut 1,000 jobs in £150m cost-saving driveOnly six years ago, the boss of Ocado Group was writing the obituary for supermarkets as he predicted that a surge in online grocery shopping during the pandemic had brought forward the hi-tech future.“Not every store will disappear, but there will be a dramatic shift,” Tim Steiner said at the height of the Covid pandemic, when shopping from the sofa became the only option for many. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Yes, Britain needs more babies – but Reform's nasty plans for women won't help | Polly Toynbee
The UK, like many other countries, has a falling birthrate. But Danny Kruger’s perverse 1970s-style policies offer nothing to mothers-to-beBabies are beautiful. I always want to smile at them in the street, perhaps because they are a rarer and more precious sight in this ageing country or because they remind me of my grandchildren. There are about 3.5 million children aged four and under, while dogs on the streets are a more plentiful 13.5 million. Is the dog boom compensating for fewer children? As time goes by, there are going to be ever more grandparents and ever fewer children to beam at foolishly.That is not only a sadness and a loss, but becoming an aged society is a cultural and economic threat. Older people, by and large, are not the innovators or new thinkers. An ageing society risks declining in optimism, creativity and, above all, risk-taking: a top-heavy preponderance of older people makes for a conservative and fearful electorate. We are there already – and it’s getting worse.Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnistGuardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink? On Monday 30 April, ahead of the May elections, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader of the Labour party. Book tickets hereDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK social media ban for under-16s edges closer with Starmer expected to back it
Liz Kendall to launch consultation next week that will also explore alternatives such as curbs on infinite scrollingMinisters will take another step towards banning social media for under-16s next week as they launch a consultation on the policy, with government insiders increasingly certain Keir Starmer will back the idea.Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, will publish the terms of reference for the consultation, which is expected to explore options including an age limit and less hardline action such as curbs on infinite scrolling. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Walmart to pay $100m over claims it misled drivers over pay
The company told drivers they could expect to receive more in pay and tips than they actually did.
theguardian.com
Subsidies for Rolls-Royce might seem a bit rich, but they are inevitable | Nils Pratley
Every country supports its aerospace business, while keeping the production at home is vital. At least with Rolls the UK is backing a winnerRolls-Royce, the engine-maker and defence firm that is spitting out so much cash it can shove £7bn to £9bn towards buying back shares over the next three years, would like UK taxpayers to find a few quid – reportedly up to £200m as a first slug – to help fund one its big bets. The company would “appreciate” financial support from the government to smooth work on a new engine, says its chief executive, Tufan Erginbilgiç.Outrageous? Well, corporate welfare for Rolls is obviously absurd in the abstract. If there is a definition of a company that can afford to pay for its own research and development, this is it. One might also say Rolls owes us a favour since it was the recipient of billions of pounds worth of loan guarantees from the UK’s export finance agency when the Covid wolf was at the corporate door in 2020. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Drax to stop burning controversial Canadian wood within next year
Yorkshire plant has been criticised for taking material from some of British Columbia’s most environmentally important forestsThe owner of Drax power plant has started reducing the amount of Canadian wood pellets it burns, and will stop burning trees from British Columbia entirely within the next year.The FTSE 250 company Drax Group said its Canadian wood pellet plants, which once supplied millions of tonnes of biomass to be burnt in its North Yorkshire power plant, had cost the company almost £200m in financial impairments last year. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Nearly a million 16-24 year-olds not working or in education
People at the start of their careers are particularly affected by the UK's weak job market.
bbc.com
Instagram to alert parents if teens search for self-harm and suicide content
Safety campaigners say Meta is "passing the buck" with its new feature for parents using Instagram's teen supervision tools.
theguardian.com
Send provision and student loans: will Labour’s changes backfire? – podcast
As the dust settles on the government’s landmark changes to children’s special educational needs and disabilities provision, what will their impact really be on young people, their families and schools? John Harris and Kiran Stacey look at what we know so far. And, a growing backlash from graduates over student loan payments, led by the influential consumer champion Martin Lewis, is causing a headache the government was not anticipating. Why did they overlook this and what changes could be made?Archive: ITV news, BBC Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Russia says Cuba situation is escalating after deadly incident with U.S.-tagged speedboat
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Havana.
cnbc.com
The world's biggest sovereign wealth fund is using Anthropic's Claude AI model to screen investments for ethical issues
Norway’s $2 trillion wealth fund is reviewing its ethical framework after decisions on U.S. and Israeli companies drew ire from the Trump administration.
bbc.com
World Economic Forum boss quits after review of Epstein links
Brende acknowledged communications with Epstein but said he was "completely unaware" of his past criminal activity.
theguardian.com
An oil refinery defined life in this quaint California city. What happens when it’s gone?
For decades, the Valero refinery shaped Benicia’s economy, politics and health. Now the city has become a reluctant test case of whether an oil town can reinvent itselfLess than 40 miles north of San Francisco, the city of Benicia has the quaint ambience of an American small town, where a white gazebo and sign for a community crab bake mark the approach to a vibrant downtown stretch of restaurants, cafes and antique shops.From many vantage points, it’s easy to forget the city is home to a massive 900-acre oil refinery, its imposing sprawl of stacks, holding tanks and billowing steam hidden from view. But for nearly 60 years, the refinery has loomed over every aspect of life in Benicia, exerting outsized influence on its economy and politics, while posing serious risks to public health. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘A gift that falls from the sky’: why farmers are using Etna’s ash as fertiliser
Falling volcanic ash has for years been viewed as a nuisance. But a Sicilian project has discovered its agricultural potential and wants to spread the wordIn the Sicilian town of Giarre overlooking Mount Etna, Andrea Passanisi, a tropical and citrus fruits producer, uses an unusual fertiliser on his 100-hectare (247-acre) stretch of land: volcano ash.Like hundreds of farmers and citizens of rural towns perched on the slopes of Europe’s highest and most active volcano, the 41-year-old’s family has had to deal with the nuisance of falling volcanic ash for generations. But it is only in recent years that the quantity of ash has become so excessive that it required an alternative approach. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Royal Mail bosses to be called to Parliament over letter delivery failures
It comes after hundreds of people contacted BBC Your Voice to express frustration over late deliveries.
bbc.com
Ocado to axe 1,000 jobs in cost-cutting drive
The technology and online grocery group is cutting about 5% of its global workforce, with two-thirds of the losses in the UK.
cnbc.com
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says markets ‘got it wrong’ on AI threat to software companies
Investors had grown weary that the massive run-up in spending on AI hardware might not be sustainable, stoking fears of a bubble building in the sector.
theguardian.com
Riding the wave: can surf tourism save Peru’s ancient reed-boat fishing culture?
As fish stocks dwindle, surf tourism may offer a lifeline to traditional caballitos de totora fishers, whose vessels are thought to be among the first ever used to ride wavesJust before dawn, in a scene that has repeated itself over thousands of years on the north coast of Peru, fishers drag boats made of bound reeds to the water’s edge and, kneeling on them, use paddles shaped from split bamboo to row out into the Pacific Ocean to catch their breakfast. A few hours later, these surfer fishers return with netfuls of their catch, riding waves on the final stretch back to the shore. From the main beach in Huanchaco – a seaside town near the city of Trujillo – the fish are taken to sell at the market or to beachfront restaurants preparing meals for tourists.The four-metre-long reed vessels – known as caballitos de totora in Spanish, or “little reed horses” – are placed upright on their ends by the promenade on El Mogote beach so that the seawater drains away and they are ready to be used the next morning. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
David Davis takes 'unusual step' of thanking Guardian for coverage of dual nationals – video
A Home Office minister, Mike Tapp, has rejected claims that the government failed to adequately communicate new border rules that could see British dual nationals barred from boarding flights to the UK. The former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis said three of his constituents only became aware of the changes through reporting by the Guardian and the BBC. Under the new rules, British dual nationals must present either a valid or expired British passport, or a £589 certificate of entitlement, to prove their right of abode before boarding a plane, ferry or train to the UKHome Office denies ‘absurd’ criticism over rule change that may leave dual nationals strandedUK politics live – latest updates Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Leave big tech behind! How to replace Amazon, Google, X, Meta, Apple – and more
A handful of companies monopolise the web, with unprecedented access to our data. But there are many more ethical – and often distinctively European – alternativesThere’s not much to love about big tech these days. So many ills can be laid at its door: social media harms, misinformation, polarisation, mining and misuse of personal data, environmental negligence, tax avoidance, the list goes on. Added to which, Silicon Valley’s leaders seem all too keen to cosy up to the Trump administration, to shower the president with bribes – sorry, gifts – and remain silent about his worsening political overreach. And that’s before we get to the rampant “enshittification”, as the tech writer Cory Doctorow describes it, which means that by design many big tech products have become less useful and more extractive than they were when we originally signed up to them.We’ve entered into a Faustian pact with these companies: “While it’s brilliant to have access to high-quality products and software, very often for ‘free’, it’s important to remember that there is a trade-off involved – often of our personal data and privacy,” says Lisa Barber, tech editor at Which? We give these companies our attention and our information, which they then turn into big bucks and apparently unassailable monopolies. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Keen bosses, strange mistakes and a looming threat: workers on training AI to do their jobs
Some say the technology is devaluing their work, while others reckon it is not yet – and might never be – good enough to replace them entirelyWorkers grappling with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence have said they feel “devalued” by the technology and warned of a downward trajectory in the quality of work.Recent analysis by the International Monetary Fund found AI would affect about 40% of jobs around the world. Its head, Kristalina Georgieva, has said: “This is like a tsunami hitting the labour market.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Nvidia still hasn't sold its U.S.-approved China AI chips — and it’s worried local AI rivals could take over
The U.S. chipmaker has yet to confirm shipments to China despite Washington easing restrictions on exports of advanced chips.
cnbc.com
Trump insists trade deals safe after Supreme Court ruling upends tariff authority, but partners aren’t so sure
The Supreme Court decision to strike down Trump's tariffs has thrown fresh confusion over the raft of trade deals negotiated with global partners, stalling trade talks.
theguardian.com
‘Magic beneath the surface’: pioneering geothermal plant launched in Cornwall
A new mini power station and lithium extraction facility near Redruth are set to bolster green energy and create jobsJust outside the perimeter fence stand the hulking remains of grand stone engine houses, a testament to Cornwall’s proud tin and copper mining history.But inside is a shiny new mini power station and lithium extraction plant that is once again accessing rich underground resources in the far south-west of Britain. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The secret life of a waitress: my nine nightmare diners – from flirts to complainers
Are influencers really the biggest problem facing waiting staff? Not compared with the customer who demanded I pick up her dog’s poo ...Influencers have had a bad time of it at restaurants recently. There they are, just trying to record a quick video and take a few pictures of their lunch, and restaurateur Jeremy King (of the Ivy and the Wolseley in London) goes and writes an article saying they’re ruining the dining experience of “bona fide guests” – something he says staff are “desperately trying to stop”. I’ve read pieces calling TikTok the end of the London restaurant scene. Friends’ parents have even said they would get up and leave if they were sitting next to anyone filming their meal.This surprises me. I have worked as a waitress in restaurants for more than five years, a job I love, and the joys of which most often come from the customers I serve. Of course, for every 10 great customers, you’re bound to get one that’s not so great – I’ve come across my fair share of those. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Can degrowth save the climate? – podcast
Since the 1960s, global GDP has been rapidly rising and living standards have reached record highs. But something else has been rocketing up too – carbon emissions. For years, scientists and economists have been asking: is it possible to grow without heating and polluting the Earth? And as the climate becomes more unstable, the issue is only becoming more urgent. Madeleine Finlay hears from two economists arguing for a change in how we measure a country’s success. Nick Stern is professor of economics and government at the London School of Economics and an advocate of green growth, an approach to growth that prioritises green industry. Jason Hickel is a political economist and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona who advocates degrowth, shrinking parts of the economy that do not advance our social and ecological goals.Catch up with all the pieces in the Beyond Growth seriesSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
bbc.com
Canada's finance minister says US is unlikely to lift tariffs
The comments come after US President Donald Trump said he wants global tariffs to replace income taxes as America's main revenue source.
bbc.com
The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.
bbc.com
Aldi shop staff to receive two pay rises this year
The German budget supermarket is a growing competitor among British supermarkets.
bbc.com
Chip giant Nvidia defies AI concerns with record $215bn revenue
Demand for Nvidia chips rose even as the company sets out to create AI products of its own.
bbc.com
Why Asian firms are not cheering Trump tariff ruling
The US Supreme Court's decision to block a pillar of US trade policy has caused yet more uncertainty.
bbc.com
Faisal Islam: Is the UK economy really turning a corner?
The Chancellor is trying to use this moment as a launching pad for a wider attempt to gee up consumer and business confidence.
bbc.com
MrBeast video editor fined over insider trading
A former California governor candidate was also disciplined as the prediction market Kalshi cracks down.
theguardian.com
Labour ministers exploring ways of easing burden of plan 2 student loans
Government looking at options such as increasing loan repayment thresholds amid growing pressureMinisters are examining ways to ease the burden of student loans after weeks of pressure over a policy pulling more people into repayments, the Guardian understands.The Treasury and the Department for Education are reviewing different options to offer relief to those with plan 2 student loans, which often leave graduates in England and Wales paying tens of thousands more than the original loan amount. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why the energy price cap in Great Britain is falling from April
Cap on average dual-fuel bill is to be reduced by 7% to £1,641 a year, but the saving is less than the chancellor promisedEnergy bills will fall by £117 for millions of households in Great Britain from AprilThe average energy bill for millions of households will fall by £10 a month in the spring, after Ofgem said the price cap would fall by 7% owing to a shake-up in green levies.The price cap is revised by the energy regulator for Great Britain every three months. It said that from April the cost of the average annual dual-fuel bill would drop to £1,641, down from £1,758 today. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Martin Lewis on what the new energy price cap means
Typical household energy bills will fall by 7% in April, regulator Ofgem has announced, following a shake-up in charges by the government.
theguardian.com
The ‘golden age of America’? Trump delivers the State of the Union address – podcast
Donald Trump made history again on Tuesday evening, delivering the longest State of the Union address on record. But while the president declared the ‘golden age of America’, many Democrats boycotted the event, telling the country Republicans are ‘making your life harder’.The Guardian’s Jenna Amatulli talks to Rolling Stone’s Nikki McCann Ramírez about Trump’s claims, the Democrats’ rebuttal, and how the speech will land with a divided nation Continue reading...
bbc.com
New travel rules for UK visitors kick in - how are you affected?
From 25 February, a new system will come into force which will affect many people, including British dual nationals.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north
Europe lags far behind the US and China in orbital space launches, but new facilities are opening up.
bbc.com
Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica?
Jobs are available on the icy continent for chefs, plumbers, carpenters and even hairdressers.
bbc.com
When the retail staff can't help you
This customer might be feeling trolled, in this scene from Small Prophets.
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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